The results of the Brazilian artistic gymnastics at the Rio Olympics are already historic, and there is still a partial day before the end of the competition for the sport.

After the silver medal won by São Paulo resident Arthur Zanetti, 26, on Monday (the 15th) on the rings, Brazil's has a total of 3 medals.

The other two, which were awarded on Sunday (the 14th), were won by Diego Hypolito, 30 (silver) and Arthur Nory, 22 (bronze) - both for floor routines.

Up until today, Brazil had previously been awarded only one medal in this category, the very gold won by Zanetti four years ago at the London Olympic Games.

Another result worth celebrating was achieved by young Flávia Saraiva, 15.

She nearly won the bronze, and it only slipped away from her due to mistakes that she made on the beam.

Even so, the fifth place that she took was equal to the best result ever before obtained by a Brazilian gymnast in Olympic finals. Daiane dos Santos achieved the same position in floor routines at the Athens-2004 Games.

The results achieved by the male gymnastic team members can be explained by a procedural and technical decision as well as, clearly, by the talent that the athletes have been demonstrating and the years of tough physical training and psychological preparation that they have undergone.

The Brazilian team was set up to participate in the greatest possible number of finals which also increases the chances of winning medals.

"For more than a month I have been saying that we had a chance to win between one and four medals, independent of their color. They called me optimistic", declared Renato Araújo, the male gymnastic trainer.

On this Tuesday (the 16th), Brazilian athlete Francisco Barreto Junior will be competing on the high bar.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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